Tim Needles
Twitter/Instagram: @TimNeedles
Website: TimNeedles.com
Blog: Artroom161.blogspot.com
STEAM Power:
Embracing the STEAM Maker-mindset in education and bringing innovative creativity into education to inspire students with meaningful projects.
Everyday creativity
Tim Needles
Twitter/Instagram/Tiktok/LinkedIn (@timneedles)
1. Show You CARE
2. Be Real
3. Model it
4. Value CONNECTION Over Curriculum
5. Be Mindful Of The Impact You Have As An Educator.
STEM+Art
Science
Technology
Engineering
Art
Math
STEAM Mindset
Harnessing our own creativity offers a new perspective on the world around us, in the world of education, the impact is limitless.
-Creativity
-Failure
-Curiosity
-Design
-Fun
Why Add Arts Integration into STEM?
Art helps communicate ideas and STEM material and can add a level of clarity for visual thinkers.
Incorporating elements like writing sketchnotes and connecting STEM principles to art history can make a big impact.
Integrating the arts also helps students understand how to synthesize the learning better and it allows for new perspectives and a different context.
What Art adds to STEM education: Creativity
“Imagination is more important than knowledge” -Albert Einstein
Creative risk and innovation is an intrinsic part of making art and it lends a new perspective to STEM. Giving students limitations is a great way to promote creative thinking and a lesson that reflects real issues we face.
Artists like Leonardo Da Vinci modeled an incredible STEAM mindset with mastery in each discipline.
Add Emphasis On The Creative Process
The creative process can often lead you to ideas or solutions to problems that you wouldn’t have considered at first.
This is an important step of bringing ideas into reality and it can be practiced and built upon. Process and experimentation can lead the way in STEAM.
Learning something new offers a CREATIVE
perspective
I used to have a kitchen table, now it’s an office!
Thinking About Failure
The creative process can often lead you to ideas or solutions to problems that you wouldn’t have considered at first.
This is an important step of bringing ideas into reality and it can be practiced and built upon. Process and experimentation can lead the way in STEAM.
“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” -Thomas Edison
ReFraming Failure
The pandemic triggered a sudden worldwide change in instruction from traditional in-person teaching to asynchronous models such as online learning.
The adjustment was difficult but offered lessons for teachers and students that can inform the education system.
If you persist, Failing is just LEARNING!
Judgement
is the fastest way to kill creativity
Design
We are surrounded by design every day—from the clothes we wear to the spaces we occupy—so even if we’re not aware of it, we all have extensive experience in the subject.
This is why design is such an important and impactful element of art to incorporate into STEAM learning.
Incorporating Design Thinking
Design is an important element in creation and communication. The designer’s mindset can reinforce and strengthen STEM learning by adding visual elements and including aspects that are real world essentials. Understanding design helps students in every type of making.
My colleagues at Art Heros created a great visual description of the basic design principles like color, shape, form, texture, balance, and proportion.
Curiosity
We all have this in common so it connects us as people as well as the different disciplines we teach.
Encouraging a student's curiosity promotes self-directed learning. We need to model this behavior and show that we are all life-long learners who remain curious and passionate about learning.
STEAM learning should be FUN!
Impactful STEAM lessons also are fun and memorable. It’s important to collaborate-remember the perspective of students, give them voice and choice, and make it fun!
This not only helps in retaining the learning but it frees students up to take creative risks and try something new.
STEAM
Fundamentals
Elements to Remember in Powerful Teaching
Remember your purpose and share it with your students
STEAM Benefits From Creative Collaboration
When art collaborates with STEM students benefit with layers of learning that sticks. Here’s an example from a collaboration between an Oceans and Art class which led to an ocean advocacy mural.
When this collaboration becomes global, even more learning can occur. We work with classes from around the world on STEAM projects and learn about different cultures and perspectives at the same time.
Example: Our School Courtyard Redesign
After researching other school courtyard designs we decided upon a sequence of steps where students can sit such as the Staller Steps at Stony Brook University. The positives include reasonable costs, more active use of space, and simplified upkeep. Rather than concrete we could use recycled wood.
Try To Focus On Authentic Learning
Real World STEAM Environments
Professional workplaces are well designed, include amazing art, and inspire creative work. It’s important to adapt your learning spaces using the same mentality to the best of your ability.
As educators we are in ultimately communicators and visuals aid communication.
The power of Visuals
STEAM Power Creative Challenges
Adobe Animate with Audio
I love using these animations in a variety of ways from inviting students to express something about themselves to playing educational games. Here’s an example from a NASA program and an elementary class.
Challenge: What did you learn today?
This animation tool allows for a fun animation project for class that doesn't require high level skills but I also invite educators to share something about themselves and share what you learned at the Maker STEM Summit.
Challenge: What did you learn today?
This animation tool allows for a fun animation project for class that doesn't require high level skills but I also invite educators to share something about themselves and share what you learned at the Maker STEM Summit.
Challenge: What did you learn today?
This animation tool allows for a fun animation project for class that doesn't require high level skills but I also invite educators to share something about themselves and share what you learned at the Maker STEM Summit.
Share your work &
INSPIRE Creativity!
STEAM Power Resources
FUN
HAVE
Reflection
What did we SEE?
What did we LEARN?
What did we LOVE?
Reflection
What did you SEE?
What did you LEARN?
What did you LOVE?
Tim Needles
Twitter: @TimNeedles
Blog: Artroom161.blogspot.com
Website: TimNeedles.com